Saturday is a Special Day!

Saturdays have become my new favorite day of the week. A whole day to play with Craig! The kids are always so excited when I tell them daddy doesn't have to work. Today his work sponsored a day at the downtown aquarium. We had so much fun playing (for free!). Sierra rode the carousel four times then later in the evening Craig went back with just Sierra and rode some more. I stayed at home for the evening jaunt with Gideon who is finally teething and not feeling so hot (yes he is a little late- 10 1/2 months and finally getting his first tooth).

Gideon enjoyed the carousel as well.
In Sierra's words, "The Ferris Wheel was super fun!"
Yes that is my husband with a pink butterfly painted on his cheek. The things dad's do for their little girls!

Last Saturday we had the incredible opportunity to wander around the temple in Houston for a while. Though it was a steamy hot afternoon, we walked all around admiring the beautiful building and the gorgeous grounds in full summer bloom.

Sierra loved the fountain and watching a bride in her beautiful dress.

Gideon just wanted to explore everything he could- including the leaves on the trees.

Sweet & Spunky Sierra

So I thought I'd blog about my kids today since it's a rainy day and the kids are taking extra long naps. (thank you tropical storm Eduardo).

Five things about Sierra we love!

1. Sierra is a social butterfly. She loves to play with anyone and everyone. She asks nearly everyday if she can play with friends. I think she loves church just because she gets to go to the nursery and play with other children.


2. She sings all the time even if it's often in a very high pitched tone that isn't' easy on the ears. On a little road trip to Austin last weekend she was singing a song from the musical "South Pacific". She loves musicals. Hands down this girl would rather watch a musical than any cartoon or kids show. Her current favorite is "Sound of Music".


3. She is a happy girl who rarely has a bad day. She giggles and smiles all the time. She gets very concerned if others are sad. She often puts her arms around someone who isn't happy and asks them what is wrong (usually Gideon).


4. She is very inquisitive. She wants to know what everyone is doing and asks lots of questions about the people around her. The train is especially fun for her because there are so many people to ask about.
5. She truly has an innocence about her. She wants to do the right thing and has no guile. She is an amazing example to me already! We love having her in our family!

Sierra riding the little train around the park.
My little artist painting away with water.
She embraces her femininity fully!

Sierra singing to her animals and dolls.

Families are Forever

Friday morning I was taking the metro rail home from the children's museum when my outlook on the day changed pretty drastically. A young family, mom, dad, three small children, boarded the train at the medical center stop. The father was holding a little girl about four years old who was obviously very ill. The whole family was very subdued and just sat in silence the entire ride. I then noticed that in the fathers hand was a pamphlet entitled, "What is Cancer". My heart just sunk. Tears came to my eyes as I thought about the difficult road this family is on and what could possibly be ahead for them. I know that modern medicine does amazing things but that life is also very fragile. The possibility of losing a young child would be devastating and especially so without the understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ that teaches that this life isn't the end. There IS more and families CAN be together forever. Watching this little family reaffirmed the deep gratitude I have for my testimony of this important principle. I wanted so badly to share my beliefs with them but I wasn't sure how. They got off at my stop and just before my apartment, I paused and talked with them for a moment. I gave them a card and invited them to call the number on the card to learn more about the importance of families. I finished my walk home feeling glad that I'd done something but still felt somewhat inadequate to what was truly needed. I just hope and pray that they are able to eventually find the comfort and peace that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beach Trip

I love the 4th of July! I love the patriotic songs and the beautiful fireworks but most especially I love that I most often get to spend it with my family. This year I was blessed to spend the holiday with my Texas siblings. My brother from Austin and my sister from Kingsvale met on the beach in Corpus Christi. We spent the holiday together with our little ones (eight of them 4 and under). It was such fun to create happy memories of being together. I am so grateful for families!

Gideon is my nature boy who loves being outdoors. The beach was no different. He LOVED everything about it- the sand, watching the birds, and listening to the waves come and go.
Vacations are such a great time to really focus on family without the distractions of everyday life. I loved the afternoon we spent at the beach with just our little family. This is the group! There was never a dull (or a quiet) moment with all these little ones.

Two Rules

There are two rules you must abide by if you are going anywhere in Houston- check the weather and check the traffic before you leave. I broke both those rules on Sunday and boy did I pay for it. I had to pick up Craig from the airport and I thought I'd leave a little early and go to the arboretum for a little walk with the kids. It was overcast when I left our home but by the time I got to the park, big juicy raindrops started falling so we didn't even get out of the car. We then got back on the freeway which quickly turned into a parking lot because of the storm and flooded frontage roads. So instead of a nice Sunday afternoon walk in nature we spent all our extra time in the car. Sierra just sat in her seat and sang songs about silly cars swimming in the water while Gideon just cried- I think the very loud thunder and heavy rain scared him a bit. We were sure happy to get to the airport. Anyway, next time I pack the kids in the car and plan to go more than a few miles I'll follow the rules.

Yummy! Gideon loves to eat!

Sierra showing off her new hat from her Grandma that she LOVES!

Being a mom

"Remember dear friends, that you are now doing the work that God intended you to do. Be grateful for the opportunity." Marjorie Hinckley

I've thought about that quote a lot recently because of the veracity of that statement. I truly feel that being a mother right now is the best thing I could be doing. I have been much more content with life than I did when I was focused on a career. It's a personal thing of course, but for me this is where my heart is. It's been especially nice to have my own home to look after again. I actually am enjoying the domestic side of staying home these days but I especially love playing with my kids. There are rough moments and not so rosy days, but overall it's great. Sierra is 2 1/2 and in the last two weeks since we moved to Houston, three new molars made their appearance. The teething and allergies triggered some bad asthma that is finally under control- yipee! I love having my happy imaginative child back. Gideon is almost 9 months and is now rolling over and starting to crawl. He is getting his first tooth so the teething rounds begin again. He is a sensitive boy but also very playful. A huge thunderstorm came through today and he was just mesmerized by the wind, rain and thundering skies. I thought it would frighten him but he just sat in front of the window and took it all in.

We live across the street from the light rail so we take the train often to the library, museums and to visit Craig at work. Gideon does great for about 15 minutes every time, then he just loses it. Sierra on the other hand loves riding the train and talking to all the people who get off and on. I enjoy not having to worry about parking, driving on roads with crazies and paying a ridiculous amount of money for gas. We did use the car to take a little road trip last weekend and drove to Austin (3 hour drive) to visit my brother and Craig's brother. Grandma Forbush was also in town to help with the the new baby Craig's brother's wife had. Sierra couldn't get enough of being with her Grandma. It was wonderful to be around family again.

Happy Father's Day!

Gideon and his new cousin Owen, just 5 days old.

My brother has two little girls that Sierra loved playing with- they are all such little princesses.

Texas

We are here in Houston, Texas now. Some observations:

• Cockroaches are big here! Especially the kind that habitat in crummy motels where we are currently staying while we wait to get into an apartment.


• Blond haired kids must be unusual because everywhere we go someone comes up to Sierra and talks to her and usually touches her. I'm not accustomed to complete strangers hugging and kissing my children. They love the attention thank goodness.


• Flying with children sure beats driving but it's still makes for a crazy day. Gideon woke up everyone in the Phoenix airport with his screaming when he dove out of the stroller and landed face first in Sierra's pizza. Sierra was content nearly the whole way playing with a Mary Poppins Barbie doll.


• Gas is still expensive here as well, even though we can see where it is being refined.


• There are wonderful people in the Summerwood area where we used to live. Attending church yesterday with them was a fulfilling experience.


• Saying goodbye to family in Nevada was much harder than I thought it would be. It's especially hard to hear my little one ask over and over to go to Grandma's house and to play with cousins. We're going to have to make a trip to Austin and Corpus Christi to see family soon.


• Humidity makes for some fabulous feeling skin and outta control hair.


• Being together as a family and having full time employment is such a wonderful blessing.

Gardening with Grandpa. Yes it was cold enough for coats.

Playtime with cousins.

Gideon & Sierra love to swing!